Kolkata: Noting that Naxalism was a
result of complex set of circumstances, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Thursday said political connectivity should be ensured to
bring Naxals into the mainstream.

"Poverty is certainly one thing and in this country we
have to ensure political connectivity so that the people can
be part of the national political mainstream and efforts
should be directed towards that," Gandhi told a press
conference here.

"If we give them political connectivity, they will be
able to join the mainstream," he said.

Asked if Naxals wanted to join the Youth Congress
during the membership drive, he replied, "All are welcome
except criminals and fundamentalists. If it is a Naxal who has
killed 50 people, he is a criminal. So you get my point.

"The difference between me and the Maoists is that I don`t kill people, but the Maoists do," he said.
To a question, Gandhi disagreed with the view that
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee had sided openly with
the Maoists.
"To say that Mamata Banerjee has openly sided with the
Maoists is wrong. She has struggled a lot in Bengal for a long
time. And, we respect her for that," he said.